As the days turned into weeks, Liza found herself falling deeper into Viktor's world—and into him. Despite his cold exterior, Viktor was fiercely protective of her. He never spoke of his feelings, but his actions said more than words ever could. The way he watched her, the way his hand always found hers in a crowded room, the way he hovered near her when they were alone—it all told her that, in his own way, he cared.But as their relationship grew more intense, so did the dangers around them.Liza had been thrust into a world of power and blood, and she was starting to see the cracks beneath the surface. Viktor's business wasn't just a legitimate enterprise—it was a front for something far darker. She had suspected as much, but now, as she stood by his side at meetings with men whose faces were etched with violence, the truth was impossible to ignore.She was living in the heart of the mafia.And with that came enemies.One night, Liza overheard Viktor arguing with one of his most trusted men. Their voices were low, but the words were unmistakable."There's a rat in the family," the man growled. "Someone's feeding information to the feds. We need to take care of it—now."Viktor's face remained calm, but Liza could see the storm brewing in his eyes. "We will," he said coolly. "But we need to be smart about this. If we move too quickly, it'll tip them off."The conversation sent a chill down her spine. She knew what Viktor's "taking care of it" meant. She had seen glimpses of his ruthless side before, but this was different. This was life and death, and she was standing in the middle of it.Later that night, as they lay in bed, Liza turned to Viktor, her voice barely a whisper. "How do you do it?"He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Do what?""Stay so calm," she said. "With everything going on around you... how do you stay in control?"Viktor didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "You learn," he said quietly. "You learn to bury your emotions, to focus on the endgame. It's the only way to survive."Liza's chest tightened at his words. She had seen the darkness in Viktor, but now she was starting to understand it. He wasn't just ruthless—he was a man who had been hardened by the world, shaped by violence and betrayal. But underneath it all, there was something more. Something vulnerable.And she was beginning to realize that she was the only one who could touch that part of him.